MDE User Case Study: Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) - Offshore wind farm impacts database
To celebrate the use of marine industry data, we have created “MDE User Case Studies”
In this series of articles, we will be showcasing the different ways that data hosted on the MDE is helping to shape the future of our seas. From academics, to GIS experts, marine industry consultants and more, learn how YOU can shape the future of our seas, through open and accessible data & evidence.
Dr Claire Szostek, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
"I am a marine ecologist with a research focus on anthropogenic impacts on the seabed and marine environment, such as fisheries and offshore energy installations
What industry are you in?
Marine Research/Renewable energy/Ecosystem services
What is your job title and role?
I am an Ecosystem Services Scientist in the Sea & Society research group at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). We are an interdisciplinary team working across marine ecology and social science to link human impacts on the marine environment with ecology and physical processes. I apply specialist ecosystem service knowledge across many offshore energy projects (ECOWind PELAgIO/, ECOWind), working towards increasing knowledge and evidence for improving environmental outcomes for our oceans, while maintaining and enhancing the services and benefits provided by a healthy marine environment.
What themes of data do you use on the Marine Data Exchange?
Ecosystem services assessment takes a whole-system approach, therefore all themes of data are relevant. Including:
- Archaeology
- Benthic ecology
- Birds
- Coastal processes
- Epifauna and fish
- Intertidal ecology
- Marine mammals
- Meteorology
- Metocean
- Noise
- Onshore
- Other
- Research
- Sedimentology
How do you use the data on the Marine Data Exchange?
At PML, we have developed the first comprehensive database of global primary and UK grey literature on the environmental impacts and ecosystem service outcomes of offshore wind farm developments on the marine environment.
This was done as part of the UK Energy Research Council’s (UKERC) Energy, Environment and Landscapes project , which applies ecosystem service and natural capital approaches to understand the environmental implications of changes in the UK energy system. This work also builds on the DREAMS: Decommissioning - Relative Effects of Alternative Management Strategies project which is led by PML, the University of Plymouth (UoP, UK) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas, UK) including the work of Lemasson et al., 2022.
We searched the MDE for all relevant literature to add to the database and it has proved a valuable and comprehensive source for this piece of work. We are planning to host our database on the MDE and will regularly update the database with new evidence as it becomes available on the MDE.
